Security Dominates as China Arrests Announced and Estimates Passed

High-Level Summary

The Commons focused on national security, public finances and regional priorities. Wales questions covered economic growth, devolution of a vacant land tax, rail and energy investment, farming support, child poverty, cost of living and UK‑EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) talks. Prime Minister’s Questions centred on the Government’s response to Iran and defence posture, alongside domestic policy issues. The Security Minister announced three arrests under the National Security Act relating to suspected Chinese foreign interference. MPs scrutinised and then approved Supplementary Estimates for the FCDO, MoD and DBT, before an adjournment debate marked St Piran’s Day and Cornwall’s cultural, devolution and growth agenda.

Detailed Summary

Wales Oral Questions: Economy, housing, energy, farming, poverty and SPS

The Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, said she meets Ministers regularly on Welsh growth, citing investment in nuclear at Wylfa, AI growth zones, freeports, investment zones, rail and a defence growth deal: “I have regular discussions… including economic growth”. She confirmed plans to devolve a vacant land tax to the Welsh Government to encourage building, “subject to consultation”, and highlighted small modular reactors and wider investment, saying the Government is “creating 3,000 good, direct jobs”. On rail, she said a long‑term plan would “unlock 12,000 jobs” and includes a pipeline of projects worth up to £14 billion. On the deposit return scheme, she defended agreeing a UK Internal Market Act exclusion as “the most pragmatic way… to protect trade and support growth”.

On farming, Minister Anna McMorrin said, “Family farms play a crucial role” and she engages across Governments. She confirmed the UK is negotiating an SPS agreement to cut export costs—“we are negotiating an agreement with the EU, our closest partner and biggest market”—and said SPS talks had begun, adding she would raise bovine TB vaccine issues with colleagues. On child poverty, she said the Government has scrapped the two‑child limit, “benefiting 69,000 children in Wales”. On the cost of living, she said “interest rates have already been cut six times since the election, energy bills will be cheaper this spring and families getting a new mortgage are almost £1,400 a year better off”.

Prime Minister’s Questions: Iran, defence and domestic issues

The Prime Minister opened by addressing the Middle East and a cautious, lawful approach, saying he was “not prepared… for the UK to join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought‑through plan”. He detailed pre‑deployment of radar, ground‑based air defence, counter‑drone systems and F‑35s and Typhoons, with further missions flown to defend regional partners. Exchanges with the Leader of the Opposition focused on defence spending, readiness and urgency.

He cited planned defence spending of £270 billion this Parliament, argued that renewables are key to energy security—“Renewable energy… would take us off those markets and give us the security we need”—and described the special relationship in action through basing, air defence and intelligence co‑operation. MPs also raised leasehold reform, school conditions and investment, homelessness, medicinal cannabis, grooming gangs inquiry terms, and endometriosis diagnosis delays; Ministers outlined ongoing work in each area (e.g. leasehold reform, school rebuilding support, and homelessness funding).

Statement: China—Foreign interference arrests

Security Minister Dan Jarvis told the House that three arrests had been made for suspected offences under the National Security Act: “this morning, its officers arrested three men… on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service”. He confirmed the case “relates to China” and “foreign interference targeting UK democracy”, said officials had démarched Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing, and warned that proven interference would bring “severe consequences”.

He highlighted new tools in the National Security Act and plans for a “proscription‑style tool” against proxy organisations, said no final decision had been taken on placing China in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme but it was under close review, and stressed CPS independence on prosecutions. The Speaker cautioned Members to avoid prejudicing the live investigation.

Points of Order

Members sought clarifications on previous exchanges and asked whether the House would be informed about any individuals connected to the arrests. The Chair noted that such matters were for Ministers and recorded Members’ views, saying, “Ministers will no doubt update the House when and if appropriate”.

Bills presented (First Readings)

Three presentation Bills received First Reading: Military Action (Parliamentary Approval) (No. 2) Bill (to require parliamentary approval for deployments of UK armed forces and for use of UK bases by other nations); State Actors (Proscription) Bill (to enable proscription of state and state‑linked actors, and require proscription of the IRGC); and United States Military and Security Operations (Oversight) Bill (to confer oversight functions on the Intelligence and Security Committee for US operations using UK bases).

Ten Minute Rule Motion: Police (Declaration) Bill

Tonia Antoniazzi sought leave to bring in a Bill to “require police officers and certain employees of police forces to declare a membership of or affiliation to certain types of society”. Citing the Metropolitan Police’s disclosure policy—upheld by the High Court as “lawful and proportionate”—the Daniel Morgan panel and the Casey Review, she argued for a UK‑wide, standardised public register of declarable associations. She referenced a 1997 Home Affairs Committee recommendation to require registration of membership of any secret society by police, magistrates, judges and CPS lawyers. The House granted leave and the Bill was read a First time.

Estimates Day: FCDO—aid, soft power and departmental capability

Opening the Estimates Day debate, Sarah Champion said successive aid reductions—from “0.7% to 0.5% of GNI, and… a stated path towards 0.3% by 2027”—were harming the UK’s role, and criticised the lack of transparency: “Members are being asked to vote on billions of spending authority without having that complete picture”. She raised concerns over staffing changes, independent scrutiny (ICAI), and pressures on the BBC World Service and British Council.

Minister Chris Elmore said no decision had been taken on ICAI’s future, outlined the FCDO 2030 transformation, and a development approach of working as “partners not patrons”. He committed to publish indicative three‑year ODA allocations “shortly”, develop a soft power strategy (the Soft Power Council has met four times since January 2025), increase the BBC World Service grant by £32.6 million this year, and work to put the British Council on a sustainable footing.

Estimates Day: MoD—readiness, investment and procurement

Defence Committee Chair Tan Dhesi argued that “the world is rearming at pace” and the UK must not fall behind, calling for rearmament and long‑term certainty for industry. Members demanded the overdue Defence Investment Plan (DIP) and better value in procurement; the PAC Chair pressed the Minister to give a publication date.

Minister Luke Pollard explained significant accounting adjustments in the MoD estimate as “technical, non‑cash accounting adjustments” with no in‑year cash impact. He cited support for personnel, including “the largest pay rise in 20 years” and a £9 billion housing strategy, confirmed HMS Dragon was being readied to deploy to the eastern Mediterranean, outlined moves towards a hybrid Navy with uncrewed systems, and reported improved recruitment inflows.

Estimates Day: DBT—British Steel, Horizon redress and business support

Committee Chair Liam Byrne queried large in‑year budget increases and called for a steel strategy and clarity on Fujitsu’s contribution to Post Office redress. Minister Chris McDonald said the in‑year changes primarily covered British Steel (£375 million), Post Office Horizon compensation provisions (£1.351 billion), and £200 million for the British Business Bank. He said a steel strategy would be published “early in 2026”, with trade measures to follow “in a very short time”.

On Horizon, he confirmed payments to “more than 11,300 postmasters” totalling £1.2 billion and stated Fujitsu “has accepted that it bears a moral responsibility” and must contribute, with the inquiry informing the amount. He referenced the Government’s small business plan and British Business Bank growth finance.

Supply and Appropriation: Supplementary Estimates and Votes agreed

The House approved Supplementary Estimates. For the FCDO, current and capital resources were reduced and a further small cash sum granted: “resources authorised for current purposes be reduced by £595,921,000”. For the MoD, further resources were authorised: “further resources, not exceeding £21,545,924,000”. For the DBT, further current resources were authorised: “not exceeding £1,726,964,000”. The House also agreed Votes A for Service personnel numbers and wider Supply Resolutions for 2026‑27 on account, before giving First Reading to the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) (No. 2) Bill.

Adjournment: St Piran’s Day—Cornwall’s culture, devolution and growth

Perran Moon marked St Piran’s Day, celebrating Cornwall’s history, diaspora and language. He highlighted the UK’s notification applying Part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages to Cornish—“formally notified… applying part III”—and called for bespoke devolution and action on housing, transport and coastal deprivation. He set out opportunities in critical minerals, geothermal power and floating offshore wind.

Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh praised Cornwall’s role and confirmed a £30 million Kernow fund with decisions devolved to Cornwall Council, a new 10‑year £39 billion social and affordable housing programme, and restated Part III recognition of Kernewek, alongside support for local transport and resilience.